Brexit: A Very British Civil War review - a hilarious but trivialising documentary

AI Summary

The documentary 'Brexit: A Very British Civil War' has been reviewed, with critics arguing that its lighthearted approach trivialises the Brexit process. The two-part series features interviews with key figures, including Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.

The Documentary's Tone

Let's get one thing straight immediately: no documentary about Brexit should be this much of a hoot. The dread many felt when the referendum result came in – a fear that reactionary populism was on the rise and Britain was entering an era of managed decline – has only bloomed like mould in the intervening decade.

Interviews with Key Figures

The two-parter rakes over the ashes of the referendum and unearths an endless parade of sparky anecdotes in the process. Brexit-flavoured juice is served from the off, with Vote Leave bosses “didn’t really want to win”, says Nigel Farage. Boris Johnson's position had “nothing to do with the EU,” says George Osborne. “It was Game of Thrones.”

The Impact of the Documentary

Despite prioritising bon mots and tales of vicious infighting, there’s still time for plenty of compelling insight into Westminster machinations. Osborne, Cameron, Brown and Corbyn all attempt to justify their fatally divergent perspectives on how to influence the electorate.

The Verdict

Does this programme’s fixation on gossipy drama trivialise Brexit? Absolutely. Will you watch a more rollickingly fun documentary about politics this year? Absolutely not.